Piano.



No. 775,161. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. R. s. BOWEN.

' PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wabceasea: 156067622 PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

R. s. BOWEN.

PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

R. s. BOWEN.

PIANO. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1902 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

zb'rfma aee: 15130676602: @q/CM F4452 (fiitormgya UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904..

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. BOWEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHIOKERING & SONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part 31 Letters Patent No. 775,161, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed. August 9, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern;

therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates mainly to pianos of the horizontal or grand type; and the chief object of the invention is to produce a piano of the said type which shall be condensed into v bodying the invention.

much smaller size or limits than heretofore has been accomplished in practice without any material reduction in the size of the toneproducing elements of the piano, and thereby retaining the full power of the instrument.

I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which latter- Figure 1 is a perspective of a piano em- Fig. 2 shows portion of the body of the said piano in vertical section on a plane parallel with the keys, a small portion of the case being represented in elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar though less extensive sectional view taken on a different plane. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of some of the keys and adjacent parts.

Having reference to the drawings, the general casing of the body of a piano is designated 1, the opposite cheeks thereof being indicated at 2 2, the music-desk at 3, and the music-desk frame at 4. The keys are indicated at 5 5, a hammer at 6, Fig. 2, the strings at 7 7 Figs. 2 and 3, and the plate at 8. In Fig. 3, 9 designates a damper.

In order that the size of the piano may be reduced to the utmost limit, I locate the front edge of the plate 8 close to the front of the case, bringing the said edge near the front panel 10, Fig. 2, and I locate the keys 5 5 above the plate 8, but preferably without projecting beyond the front edge of the plate, as in Figs. 2 and 3. For the purpose of reducing the height of the piano I arrange the action below the plate and strings and operatively join the keys which are above said plate with the action that is located below the same,

- the same.

Serial No. 118,980. (No model.)

as just noted, by means of connections extending through the spaces between the strings. I also set the action back somewhat from the front of the case, as indicated clearly in Fig.

2, leaving thereby a recess below the front portion of the plate 8 suflicient to admit the knees of the person who plays upon the instrument or to. receive a mechanical player of one of the kinds at present in use. This recess is shown clearly in the perspective Fig. 1.

So far as the parts of the action'which are more immediately adjacent the hammer are concerned they may be of any approved character. I have shown in Fig. 2 an arrangement which in essential respects is the same as is at present in extensive use and needs, therefore, no description herein. The jack, collectively, is designated 11 in the said figure, the jack-bed forming part thereof being designated 12 for convenience in referring to The jack-bed is engaged by the capstan-screw 13, carried by the lever, which I have provided at 14, the said lever carrying also the back-catch 15 and being termed by me the back-catch lever. The back-catch lever 14: is actuated through the lever 16, which from its general function of causing the jack to be lifted I call the jack-lifting lever, the rearwardly-projecting arm of the said lever 16 being provided with the button 17, which makes contact with the back-catch lever. A spring 18 is employed in connection with the forward arm of the jack-lifting lever 16 and assists in supporting the weight of the devices presently to be described, through which motion is communicated from the key to the said jack-lifting lever, the said spring serving to render the lever and other parts prompt in returning to their normal positions after the pressure upon the key has been relieved.

At 19 is a soft stop which I havecombined with the series of levers 16. It consists, essentially, of a bar or roll extending across the piano immediately adjacent the said levers l8 and eccentrically mounted upon journals or pivots, one of which is indicated at 191. When said bar is partially rotated by the player by suitable operating connections, the eccentrically disposed portion thereof is caused to bear against the levers 16, so as to move the same partly and set the hammers nearer the strings, so that the blows thereof upon the strings will be less forcible.

The parts intermediate the keys 5 5 and the jack-lifting levers 16 for transmitting movement from the keys to the said levers may vary more or less in character and arrangementin practice. Preferably, however, I employ the arrangement which I have shown in the accompanying drawings and which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings. An extensible transmitting-post 20 is employed in connection with the forward arm of the jack-lifting lever 16. In order to obviate danger of displacement of the lower end of said post relative to the said lever, the said end is received in a socket 21, that is formed in the said arm of the lever. For the purpose of enabling the operative length of the post 20 to be varied, as found necessary in practice, the post is formed in two main portions or sections, as shown, one thereof having aflixed to the inner end of the same a screw, as 201, which fits a threaded hole that is tapped in the proximate end of the other portion or section. By rotating one portion or section relative to the other, so as to cause the screw to enter or withdraw from the threaded hole, the effective length of the compound transmitting-post may be adjusted to meet requirements in practice. A suitable guide is provided for the purpose of confining and directing the transmittingpost in its movements. The said guide may vary in character and the mode of its combination with the post; but herein I have shown a short radiusarm 22, which is connected pivotally at one extremity thereof to the upper portion of the post and at the other extremity thereof to a flange 23, mounted upon a cross-bar 2 f, the said cross-bar being suitably mounted upon the action-frameas, for example, upon posts, one of which is shown at 25, Fig. 2. The posts 25 are attached to and rise from the bottom 26 of the action-frame.

ires 27 extend vertically through the spaces between the strings 7 and are furnished at their lower ends with buttons 271, making contact with the rounded outer ends of the radius-arm 22. Each wire 27 has its upper end furnished with a button 272, on which rests the free extremity of an arm 28, that is pivoted to the flange 29, supported by the cross-bar 30 above plate 8. Arm 28 is furnished on its upper side with a button 281, upon which the corresponding key 5 rests normally. Depression of a key 5 causes depression of the corresponding arm 28 and the wire 27 beneath said arm, causing thereby the corresponding radius-arm 22 and its connected transmitting-post to be depressed also,

thus actuating the corresponding jack-lifter lever 16 and the jack which is operated therefrom.

The use of the radius-arms 28 affords a convenient means of compensating for the fact that the space between strings 7, through which a given wire 27 passes, seldom lies beneath the middle of the key which actuates the said wire. In some cases, in fact, the wire 27 is located entirely to one side of the key by which it is operated. In practice I arrange the center of the button 281, carried by an arm 28, as nearly as possible above the center of the button 272, that is carried by the wire 27, which is actuated from the said arm. In the case of the respective arms 28 the positions of the buttons 281 and 272 vary with relation to the middle of the width of the arm 28 according as the positions of the spaces where the wires 27 pass between the strings 7 vary with reference to the respective keys 5.

For the purpose of holding the wires 27 in an upright position and guiding them in their vertical movements they are placed within guide-holes at 301, made through aforwardlyprojecting flange of the cross -bar 30, and similar guide-holes in the forward edge of a cross-bar 31, that is secured to the under side of the plate 8. The said wires also pass through a slot or slots at 81, made through the plate 8.

The action-frame comprising, essentially, the bottom 26, the standards 261, the crossbar 2%, and the other necessary supports for the working parts rests upon the action-bed 32 and is introduced into position or withdrawn by sliding it horizontally upon the said action-bed.

33 is a removable panel which is introduced at the front of the space containing the action-frame after the latter has been placed in position. It is for the purpose of securing convenience in connection with the insertion and removal of the action-frame and action carried thereby that the wires 27 and transmitting-posts 20 are not connected positively with each other.

For the purpose of sustaining the wires 27 in an elevated position at the time of the withd rawal or replacement of the action-frame and action I provide a wiresupporting device which in the present instance is constituted by a strip or bar 34, which is supported at the under side of the cross-bar 31. The said strip 34 is secured to the plate 8 by means of screws or bolts 35, the stems of which pass through holes in the cross-bar 31 and also through slots at 36, which are formed transversely in the strip 34. These slots enable the strip 3 L to be shifted horizontally in a direction from front to rear, which permits the strip to be drawn forward, so that its front edge 37 passes below the flanges with which the buttons 371 at the lower ends of the wires 27 are provided. In this latter position-of the strip it will support the wires 27 when the devices which normally sustain the said wires are removed from beneath the same. After the strip has thus been advanced into engagement with the wires the action-frame may be freely withdrawn, the front panel33 having been taken out of the way,'and the action-frame can subsequently be replaced in position without trouble or inconvenience, such as would be occasioned by the dropping of the wires 27. After the action-frame has been restored to place the strip 34 will be pushed rearwardly again out of engagement with the wires, so as to render the latter free to be depressed as required by the action of the keys.

In some cases the strip 34 may be operated by hand; but I prefer to arrange the same to be actuated by the movement of the actionframe, and to this end I have provided the cross-bar 24 with upwardly-projecting pins 38 to engage with the strip 34. As the actionframe is being withdrawn the pins 38 engage with the rear edge of the strip and push the same forward into engagement with the wires 27. The pins 38 are flexible, so that when the advancing movement of the strip 34 is arrested the pins 38 bend, and thus are permitted to pass by the strip. When the actionframe is being replaced, the pins 38 act similarly through their engagement with the strip 34 in restoring the said strip to its normal position and disengaging the same from the wires. In order to facilitate the engagement of the forward edge 37 of the strip 34 with the flanges of the buttons 271 on the wires 27, the top of the said edge is beveled, as shown in Fig. 2.

My invention relates in part to the damperactuating devices of a piano. A damper-actuating device embodying my invention is shown in Fig. 3. The damper itself is connected, by means of a wire 91, with the arm 92 of the damper-lever. The said damperlever is pivoted at 93 to one of the radius-arms 28 and is intended to move in unison with the said radius-arms 28 whenever the latter is operated by the movement of the corresponding key 5, while the damper-lever is also intended to have capacity for independent movement relative to the said radius-arm. The independent relative movement is secured by pivoting the damper-lever to the radius-arm at 93, as just referred to, and this enables the damper-lever to be raised without affecting the position of the radius-arm 28. This pivoting also enables the damper-lever 92, when the key 5 has been depressed and the parts 28 92 have been thereby operated so as to elevate the damper-lever and damper, to be engaged and held in an elevated position, so as to hold the damper away from the strings, while the key 5 and radius-arm 28 return to their normal positions. In order that the damper-lever may move in unison with the radius-arm 28 when the latter is operated by the depression of the key 5, the damper-lever is furnished at 921 with a shoulder to take against a corresponding shoulder at 282 on the radius arm. The interengagement of these two shoulderscauses the parts 28 and 92 to move in unison as one when the radius-arm 82 is operated by the depression of the key.

My improved forte or loud stop and sostenuto device comprises, essentially, a rod or roll 42, which is mounted upon pivots or journals at 43. The acting portion of the said rod or rollis eccentrically disposed with relation to the said pivots or journals 43. Turning movement of the rod or roll 42 in the direction of the movement of the hands of a watch in Fig. 3 will cause the eccentric portion of the same by its contact with the damper-levers to raise the latter, removing the dampers from the strlngs. For the sostenuto effect the rod or roll 42 is furnished with a projecting flange or rib 44, and for cooperation with the said flange or rib each damperlever is furnished with a nib 45, Fig. 3. In the normal or intermediate position of the rod or roll 42 the flange or rib 44 does not engage with the nibs 45 of the respective damper-levers. Should, however, the rod or roll 42 be turned from its normal position (shown in Fig. 3) in a direction contrary to that of the movement of the hands of a watch the flange or rib 44 will by such movement be swung upward into position beneath the nibs 45 of such of the damper-levers 92 as at this moment occupy a raised position in consequence of the depression of the corresponding keys 5 5,there by engaging with such nibs and holding the said damper-levers temporarilylocked in their upraised position with the corresponding dampers away from the strings. The rod or roll 42 is operated in practice by means of suitable connections not necessary to be here shown or described.

The larger proportion of the wires 27 pass between the strings 7 at places where the strings do not vibrate. This is true of all save the strings for about thirty-five notes at the lower end of the scale. In the case of these latter strings the wires 27 pass between portions of strings which are not wrapped or covered. There is therefore no liability to contact between the strings and wires in consequence of the vibrations ofthe strings. In my arrangement of the parts the wires 27 are located close to the bearing-points or agraifes for the strings of the lower notes, between the said points and the line of striking-points. In other words, the wires 27 are located so near the front of the plate as to obviate any drawbacks or disadvantages such as would be incident to contact between such wires and vibrating portions of the strings.

The position of the bank of keys immediatelyabove the forward end of the plate causes the said bank to overlie the tuning-pins 456. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) hen it is desired to tune the piano, I remove the music-desk and its frame, as customary with other pianos. I then slide the key-bank rearwardly of the plate several inches until the tuning-pins 456 are visible at the front thereof. This affords access to the tuning-pins. In order to provide for making application of the customary muting-wedges to the vibrating portions of the strings for the higher notes, I reduce the width of the rear or inner portions of the corresponding keys, as at 51, Fig. 4, so as to leave between adjacent keys spaces 54. 54. Through these spaces the wedges may be introduced and removed, the location of the said spaces when the key-bank occupies its rearward position enabling the said wedges to be applied to the proper portions of the strings.

I claim as my invention" 1. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the action below said plate and strings, and the keys above the same and operatively connected with the said action.

2. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above said plate and strings, and the action below the same and operatively connected with the forward portions of the keys.

3. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys abox e said plate and strings, the action below the same, and transmitting connections embracing wires operated by the forward portions of the keys and passing between the strings.

L. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate extending substantially to the front of the piano, the strings applied thereto, the keys directly above said plate, the action below the plate, and operative connections between the keys and action.

5. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above the plate, the action below the plate and strings and relatively reversed in position so that the hammers are turned toward the front of the piano, whereby room is left at the front of the action for the players knees or an automatic, and operative connections between the keys and the action.

6. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate extending to the front of the piano, the strings applied thereto, the keys directly above the plate, the action below the plate and strings and relatively reversed in position so that the hammers are turned toward the front of the piano, whereby room is left in front of the action beneath the front portion of the plate for the players knees or an automatic, and operative connection between the keys and the action.

7. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the

plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above the-plate, the action below the plate and strings and having room in front of the same for the reception of the players knees or an automatic, and operative connections between the keys and the action.

8. Ina horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above the plate, the action below the plate, and operative connections between the keys and action-embracing wires which pass between non-vibrating portions of the strings of the upper parts of the scale.

9. In a horizontal piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above the plate, the action below the plate adapted to be withdrawn from its working position, and operative connections between the action and the keys and separable to permit of withdrawal of the action.

10. In a piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above said plate, the pivoted arms actuated by the keys, the wires actuated by the said arms, the transmitting-posts operated by said wires, the levers operated by said posts, the jacks operated from said levers, and the hammers.

11. In a piano, in combination, the plate, the strings applied thereto, the keys above said plate, the wires operatively connected with said keys and passing between the strings, the action-frame beneath the plate and movable to effect the withdrawal and replacement of the action, the jacks and hammers. the levers in operative connection with said jacks, and the transmitting-posts in operative engagement with said levers and actuated by said wires when the action-frame is in normal position.

12. In a piano, in combination, the plate, the strings, the keys above the plate, the arms actuated by the keys, the wires actuated by said arms, the movable action-frame below the strings, and the action mounted in the said action-frame and embracing jack-operating levers and transmitting-posts adapted to be operated by said wires when the action-frame is in its normal position.

13. In a piano, in combination, the plate, the strings, the keys, above the plate, the wires operated from said keys, the movable action-frame below said plate, the action mounted in said action-frame and operated by said wires, and a wire-holder to engage with said wires and hold them in place to facilitate the withdrawal and replacement of the action.

14. In a piano, in combination, the plate, the strings, the keys above the plate, the wires operated from said keys, the movable action-frame below said plate, the action mounted in said action-frame and operated from said wires, the wire-holder, and means connected with the action-frame to operate the said wire-holder.

15. In a piano, in combination, the plate,

the strings, the keys above the plate, the wires operated from said keys, the movable action-frame below said plate, the action mounted in said action-frame and operated from the said wires, and the wire-holder mounted to slide into engagement with the wires.

16. In a piano, in combination, the damperlever provided with the nib 4:5, and the eccentric bar or roll having the flange or rib 44, the eccentric portion of the bar or roll coacting with said damper-lever to secure forte effects, and the flange or rib coacting with the said nib. to secure sostenuto effects.

17 In a piano, in combination, a key, a piv- 5 oted arm, as 28, operated thereby, a pivoted damper-lever, said arm and damper-lever having shoulders, as 282 and 921, whereby to transmit movement from the arm to the damper-lever, the latter having also capacity for independent movement relative to the arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND. 

